Sustainable Urban Transportation: Examining Cargo Bike Use in Seattle

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Cargo bikes have become a more viable and attractive alternative mode for transporting children and cargo, such as equipment or packages, as Seattle’s motor vehicle traffic congestion has increased. Using cargo bikes has several environmental, economic, health and safety benefits for individuals, businesses, and the cities, however, cargo bikes are a recent urban transportation trend with limited research and a general lack of awareness in the United States. As the cargo bike trend continues to grow in Seattle along with urban population densities, it will become increasingly important for urban planners, transportation engineers, households, and businesses to recognize cargo bikes as an effective tool for establishing more sustainable urban transportation practices. In my thesis, I argue that cargo bikes should be acknowledged as viable car replacements and incorporated and supported within urban transportation plans, policies, and designs. My argument is supported by a literature and practice review, interviews with Seattle cargo bike users, and some local plan and policy analysis, resulting in an outline for improving cargo bike support in Seattle.